Boat shade



J. o. EDGIN 2,769,451

BOAT SHADE Nov. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1954 Fig. 74

Fig. 3 I

James 0. Edy/n INVENTOR.

BY n4 MEj- United States Patent() BOAT SHADE James 0. Edgin, Edna, Tex.

Application August 19, 1954, Serial No. 451,002

2 Claims. (Cl. 135-6) This invention relates to a novel attachment for a boat such as a cabin cruiser or the like and more particularly to a novel boat shade.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel boat shade which can be easily erected to provide adequate shelter on a boat or the like, yet which may be readily collapsed or folded to a vertical or horizontal position as may be desired.

The construction of this invention teaches a support member to which U-shaped arms are attached by means of vertically slidable brackets. Means are provided for locking the brackets in any one of a number of selected positions. Further, means are provided for mounting the support member so that the support member itself may be pivoted from a vertical to a substantially horizontal position.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a boat shade that is strong and durable, simple in construction and installation, and which is inexpensive to produce thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this boat shade, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the boat shade comprising the present invention and showing the boat shade in a collapsed position in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the boat shade with a portion of the covering removed therefrom to show the construction of the boat shade in greater detail;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the boat shade shown in a vertically collapsed position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view as taken along the planes of line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the brackets with parts thereof being shown in section;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 66 in Figure 5 illustrating the actuation member and the latch for locking the latch into a selected one of the apertures in one of the legs; and

Figure 7 is a sectional detail view similar to that of Figure 6 but showing the latch in an unlocked position.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a portion of a boat or like structure on which it is desired to mount the boat shade generally designated by reference numeral 12 and comprising the present invention.

This boat shade 12 includes a pair of sockets '14 which are secured in any suitable manner in spaced relationship upon the deck of a boat or other suitable structure. Slidably received within the sockets 14 are the extensions 16 of the legs 18 which are pivotally attached by means of pins 20 tow the legs 18. The leg extensions 16 are of less height than the depth of the sockets 14 and thereby when the leg extensions 16 are in a lowered position, they are rigidly maintained with respect to the legs 18 and therefore the sockets 14 serve to support the legs in a vertical position. However, should it be desired to lower the entire boat shade 12, all that is necessary is to raise the legs 18 a small amount until the pins 20 are above the upper edge of the sockets 14 and then the boat shade 12 may be lowered to the position as shown in phantom lines in Figure 1.

The legs 18 are interconnected at their upper ends by an upper cross member 22. The legs 18 as Well as the cross member 22 are of tubular construction and are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced apertures 24 therein.

Slidably mounted on the legs 18 are a pair of brackets each of which is indicated byreferen-ce numeral 26 and which includes oppositely extending pairs of spaced ears 28, 30 and 32, 34. Pivotally received between the ears 28 and 30 and 32, 34 respectively, are the blocks 36 and 38 which are inserted into and form parts of the substantially U-shaped arms 40 and 42. Headed pins 44 and 46 pivotally attach the blocks 36 and 38 to the respective brackets Within the confines of the spaced ears and cotter pins as at 48 and 50 or other suitable means may be utilized to lockingly hold the pins 44 and 46 in place.

The brackets 26 are each provided with a recess 49 therein and threadedly received in the end wall 51 of the brackets 26 are threaded actuation members 52 which includes inner ends 54 adapted to seat within substantially conical anvils 56 of latches 58 pivotally mounted on pins 60 within the recesses 49. The latches 58 are urged into the position as shown in Figure 6 by actuation members 52 and are adapted to be retracted by means of coil springs 62 from a position where the latch portion 64 extends through one of the apertures 24 in each of the legs 18 to the position as shown in Figure 7. The legs may be provided with dished out portions 66 in communication with the apertures 24 so as to guide the latch portions 64.

A pair of straps 68 and 70, see Figure 2, are positioned in overlying relationship to the upper cross member 22 and have their ends stitched as at 72 with respect to the arms 40 and 42. Overlying the resilient straps 68 and 70 is a cover 74, the peripheral edge of which is secured about the arms 40 and 42.

In operation, with the mast in lowered position as shown in Figure 1, it is merely necessary to rotate the legs 18 so as to cause the legs 18 to assume a vertical position at which time the leg extensions 16 can be lowered completely into the sockets 14. This will hold the legs 18 in their vertical position. Then, it is merely necessary to unscrew the actuation member 52 until the spring 62 will pull the latch 58 back to the position as shown in Figure 7. Then, the brackets 26 can be slid upwardly until the arms 40 and 42 spread outwardly at which time the actuation member 52 can then be rotated until thelatch 58 is again inserted in one of the selected apertures 24. At this position the boat shade is in its fully erected position.

It is conceivable that the boat shade can be used as an auxiliary sail in a vertical position as is shown in Figure 3. Any suitable means such as lashings can be used to hold the device in the position as shown in Figure 3.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended support member including a pair of spaced legs interconnected by an upper cross member, a pair of brackets slidably adjustably mounted on said legs, a pair of U- shaped arms, each of said arms being pivotally attached to said'brackets, and a covering secured to said arms and overlying saidupper cross member, and means for locking said brackets in a selected position relative to said legs, said means for locking each bracket including an actuation member threadedly secured in said bracket, a latch pivotally mounted in said bracket engaged by said actuation member, and a plurality of spaced apertures in said legs, said actuation member urging said latch into a selected one of the apertures in said legs, and a spring attached to said latch for retracting said latch from said selected one of said apertures, each of said brackets including pairs of spaced ears, said arms being received between said spaced ears. a a

2. Aboat shade comprising a substantially U-shaped support member including a pair of spaced legs interconnected by an upper cross member, a pair of brackets slidably adjustably mounted on said legs, a pair of U- shaped arms, each of said arms being pivotally attached to said brackets, and a covering secured to said arms and overlying said upper cross member, and means for locking said brackets in a selected position relative to .said' legs, said means for locking each bracket including an actuation member threadedly secured in said bracket, a

latch pivotally' mounted in said bracket engaged by said actuation member, and a plurality of spaced apertures in. V

said'legs, said actuation member urging said latch intoa selected one of the apertures in said legs, and a spring attached to said latch for retracting said latch from said tensions pivotally depending fromsaid legs, said leg extensions being'vertically received in said sockets, said sockets being deeper than the height of said leg extensions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Beedle Mar. 13, 1888 Fitzgerald Feb. 21, 1933 

